Internationally acclaimed Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández is returning to San Antonio for what is probably its 20th visit, 12 of them under the auspices of Arts San Antonio.

“We presented them for the first time in 1994,” said John Toohey, Arts San Antonio executive director. “Our mission is to present globally significant artists and companies and Ballet Folklórico certainly fits that definition. They are among the best on the planet.”

Led by Amalia Hernández's grandson Salvador Lopez Lopez as general director and her daughter Viviana Basanta Hernández as choreographer, the company is marking its 60th anniversary with a 52-city American tour.

Amalia Hernández was a pioneering dancer/choreographer who also became an ethnographer, going into the villages of Mexico to research and record local dances and costumes. She adapted the original folklore to the stage by creating colorful, dynamic spectacles that reflect Mexican history and traditions.

Though Hernández died in 2000, the company faithfully preserves her choreography, said Janelle Ayon, a former dancer and publicity coordinator for the current tour.

“It's our mission to maintain the essence and style that Amalia created,” said Ayon. “It's a beautiful style that always focuses on upper-body movements as much as on footwork. Her trademark was to include elements of contemporary dance and ballet into her choreography. The execution is always a little different because different dancers have different interpretations but the choreography remains the same.”

This weekend's program will take viewers on a journey from pre-Columbian times through the Spanish influences of the colonial era, and up to the revolutionary period of the early 20th century, said Ayon.

Highlights include the “Deer Dance,” a ceremonial preparation for a hunt practiced by the Yaqui aboriginal tribe; the “Quetzals of Puebla,” inspired by the quetzal, a sacred bird; and a set of dances from the state of Jalisco, complete with mariachis and the familiar swirling skirts that most people identify with Mexican culture.

Also included are a wedding dance from the Huasteca region, a Veracruz fiesta, and a set that tells the story of the revolution through corrido songs and dance.

These and others will be performed by 35 dancers and 15 musicians. The tour honors the memory of Amalia's daughter, Norma Lopez, who led the company until her death last year.